The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/25/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/25/26

Episode 56 -Iran Freedom & Human Rights: Zolal Habibi on Activism, Women’s Rights, and Global Change (Part 2)

By Jessica Garrison

Starting from where we left off in our last blog and episode, Zolal continues into the conversation of coming back to her why and her values, something very personal to her and her mission. The NCRI emphasizes the opposition of discrimination and exploitation against anyone. Not just what is convenient for them, or for only themselves to have the opportunity to achieve their goals. Men have also fought long and hard for change, looking inward for a solution rather than accepting the bare minimum or placing blame on others. It would be easier to join the side of the oppressor and accept things for the way they are, but they know that they deserve better and so do future generations. The NCRI are the change they want to see in the world and are actively working to make it happen.

The core values of the NCRI are sacrifice and honesty, two traits that mean everything in the work that they do. In the first part of her episode, Zolal shares how political prisoners in 1988 were unfairly sent to death after answering three questions about their actions and loyalty. They could have easily lied to avoid torture or death, but they stood up against tyranny and inequality, solidifying sacrifice and honesty as words that run deep in their history. Those prisoners stood by their values and answered honestly which side of history they would be on. I can’t imagine such a horrifying experience but to also have the strength within to stand by everything you’ve fought for. The inspiration that comes from Zolal’s stories are chilling, while still igniting the fire inside to do more.

The NCRI was even on a list of terrorist organizations, which is virtually impossible to get off of once you’re on it. However, they were able to because the courts found that there is nothing terrorist about their group and removed them from the list in 2012, a victory towards recognizing the efforts they put forth to free everyone from injustice. Zolal speaks on war not being beneficial for anyone, especially being surrounded by it her whole life. She is not the first generation fighting for Iranian freedom, but she also isn’t the last as they continue their efforts every single day. Zolal and the NCRI create unity in society for trust, and that’s how they are able to continue making such positive impacts in the world.

The country of Iran needs outside “help” to stop interfering and let its citizens gain their independence. It’s very telling of a person what side they land on: the one of those killing anyone who disagrees with them or the one of those who fight for the freedom of all. Everyone deserves to live in a way that feels true to them without fear. Zolal says it is easier to die for a cause than it is to live for a cause, and she is doing the hard work of not only living for the cause, but for creating change for it. Current NCRI leader, Maryam Rajavi, has a ten point plan for Iran, which is linked below with our other resources. I want to say a special thank you to Zolal Habibi for sharing her story with us on The FEEL Podcast and for everything she does in her day to day life to fight for the freedom of Iran.

Ways to Engage: Read Maryam Rajavi’s plan for the future of Iran, share it, and continue to follow the story of Iran’s fight for freedom. Remember that A. Philip Randoplh once said, “Freedom is never given; it is won.”

Resources:

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program

The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/23/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/23/26

Episode 55 -Iran Freedom & Human Rights: Zolal Habibi on Activism, Women’s Rights, and Global Change (Part One)

By Jessica Garrison

We are so fortunate to have our next guest with us, as her work continues to be relevant and vitalizing, so much so that we couldn’t fit it into one episode. Zolal Habibi is an Iranian-American who is passionate, outspoken, justice-oriented, compassionate, and hopeful.

Zolal has been an activist since she was a teenager because of her parents’ strong-willed nature to fight and help others. She is currently on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Both of her parents were great role models for her, walking through their actions to match their words. They helped people in their community as well as traveling across the world, no matter the sacrifice. The decisions they made were not easy, just as decisions Zolal makes, but it’s about the greater cause that they’re fighting for.

There are so many things to admire about Zolal, and one of them is that she says it would be easy to say, “I wish I was born in a time without war,” but she knows she can be part of the generation that makes an impact. To have all of the privileges we have now, someone had to be part of the generation to fight to make a change. It’s inspiring to hear Zolal speak because she reminds us that we do have the power to create change. We do have the power to create a world we want to live in. It’s easy to feel helpless and feel like you’re just one person in this big world, but that’s also why community is so important. Rather than asking, “What am I going to do?” we can ask, “What are we going to do?”

Zolal says that her and the NCRI’s work is to echo the voice of the people. They work for the freedom of the people of Iran and speak on behalf of what its citizens are looking to be resolved. This dives deeper into the self-worth conversation because if you don’t see yourself as valuable, then why try? Why fight for yourself to have what you deserve, if you don’t think you deserve anything? It truly boils down to having the understanding and respect to want to fight for it, whether it be for yourself, another person, or your rights to freedom. Zolal says that she sees the potential in people because not everyone has had the same upbringing or experiences as herself, but that doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have potential within themselves to change. Sometimes it just has to be brought out of them.

This episode comes at a frustrating and confusing time in the world between Iran, Israel, and the United States. What The Embracing Layers Network fights for is the freedom of all people and the opportunity for them to create their own lives, make their own decisions, and be able to live authentically in a safe way. One last thing I want to leave with this blog is Zolal’s words, “We can and we must.” Remember that: we can and we must.

The blog for Part Two will release Wednesday, March 25th and the episode for Part Two will release Thursday, March 26th.

Ways to Engage: Ways to Engage: Check out resources below provided by Zolal Habibi and become more educated on what is happening in Iran from its own citizens. Join the resistance and help the future of Iran and the future of women.

Resources:

The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/18/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/18/26

Episode 54 -Why Are You Here? Discovering Purpose, Passion, and Holistic Healing with Dr. Marlene Siegel

By Jessica Garrison

This week’s guest is the creative Dr. Marlene Siegel, an out of the box, awakened, highly spiritual, fearless, courageous, curious, and playful trailblazer. Her story is fascinating, reminding us that even when bad things happen, we don’t have to let it define our life.

Although Marlene has always been an animal lover and a seeker of knowledge, it was an incident with her 10 year old daughter and a horse that became a driving factor for her values. While discussing boundaries, she shares the story of her daughter being thrown from the horse she was riding. The horse could’ve trampled her or fell on top of her, but she didn’t, she kept Marlene’s daughter safe and unharmed, which Marlene believes happened on purpose. Animals are more intuitive than we give them credit for, especially when they’re around people constantly. Things could’ve gone terribly wrong that day, but they didn’t because of the connection between her daughter and her horse. However, it could no longer be ridden after this incident, and this kickstarted Marlene’s journey. She promised herself that she would never say, “there’s nothing that can be done.” Sometimes the journey isn’t what’s expected or necessarily wanted, but it’s what you need. Through this, Marlene stepped into her passion of loving animals to become an integrative vet, walking into her truth, living out of her own expectations, and letting go of the attachment of the outcome. No one else is responsible for yourself but you, so it’s your decision whether or not you want to step into your passions as Marlene has.

Marlene says that she had a subtle awareness of boundaries that grew as she started to make the connection between them and other aspects of her life. She asks people, “why are you here?” Not why are they at the location or why they’re talking to her, but what are they doing here on Earth? What is your mission while you’re here? When she would ask this question, less than half the people had an answer for her. I’ll be honest, if she had asked me that, I would’ve had no idea how to answer either because no one’s asked me something like that before. It really gets you thinking about what you truly want to do and what you feel your purpose is. It’s a way to step out of other people’s expectations towards your own and understand your values.

There was an “aha” moment for Marlene when she saw people becoming more of “victims” than “victors.” Rather than life happening to us, we can frame it as something happening for us. If something sparked Marlene’s interest, she went for it and didn't let others define her. It’s a blueprint to live by, and you can create any life you want for yourself. If you need the reminder, come back to Marlene’s episode and feel the power you hold within yourself.

Ways to Engage: Ask yourself the question, “why are you here?” Explore the deeper meaning to this question, being honest with yourself, and discover what your true passions are. Are you living them out? Are you looking to please yourself or someone else? Let your answers to these guide you towards the path you’re looking for in your journey.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/16/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/16/26

Episode 53 -Breaking the Silence: How Callisto Is Empowering Survivors & Preventing Campus Sexual Assault with Tracy DeTomasi

By Jessica Garrison

Breaking the Silence: How Callisto Is Empowering Survivors & Preventing Campus Sexual Assault with Tracy DeTomsai

By Jessica Garrison

Trigger warning: sexual assault

It’s Podcasthon season! Last year, we featured HerStory Writers Network, “a nonprofit organization that utilizes the art of memoir writing to connect with people in the community.” This year, we are dedicating our episode to Callisto, featuring their CEO Tracy DeTomasi. Tracy had her own episode in September of 2025, and we’re thankful to have her back to speak on such an important organization.

Callisto was created by Jess Ladd after she had a negative experience reporting her own assault, and she took this as an opportunity to create a safer world for women. It’s a nonprofit organization that not only supports survivors of campus-based sexual assault, it also connects them with others survivors if they choose to do so. This is possible through their privacy-enhancing technology, offering a way to discover if your perpetrator is a repeat offender by entering the information into an encrypted database. It’s a secure way for anyone to record their sexual assault without it being reported to the police and dealing with everything that might come with that.

It’s important to know that sexual assault laws vary by state, so Callisto does whatever they can within rules of the state you are living in. There are many different offerings when you report to Callisto, such as an option to meet with an advocate, options for resources, and support in making decisions. They empower survivors to make the decision that is healthiest for them, whether it be to pursue legal action or to seek counseling. They also are there to remind survivors that no matter the external factors involved, it is not their fault. According to Callisto’s site, 2.5 million college students are sexually assaulted each year, with 90% of offenses committed by repeat offenders, and only 6% of student survivors report to Title IX or the police. Survivors aren’t keen to come forward because of shame, blame, or because they don’t see positive outcomes of similar situations. Many times assault accusations are buried and people go on with their lives, forgetting about the trauma and hurt that the survivor must deal with every single day.

It’s up to us as a community to provide resources for women and offer a safe space for them to share, which is exactly what Tracy and Callisto are doing. This is an organization that all genders and identities should know about, and if you have the opportunity to donate or get involved, it will go a long way to help expand the organization and strengthen the programs they have already developed. There is a lot of work to be done, and you can also become part of the solution by donating today. Any amount helps to support and advance this important work.

Project Callisto’s website:
- Services
- About
- Resources
- Get Involved
- News & Media
- Shop
- Give

Ways to Engage: Visit Callisto’s website today and donate to this important and necessary organization. Every amount helps!

The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/11/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/11/26

Episode 52 -Breaking Generational Trauma, Survivor’s Guilt & Emotional Healing with Julie Barth

By Jessica Garrison

Julie Barth, an empathetic, outspoken, change agent joins us this week on The FEEL Podcast. Her story is one of perseverance, strength, and overcoming the idea that we should hide our emotions.

In the episode, Julie says that she hadn’t pondered the idea of generational trauma until recently. She had the idea, like many other people, that the life you have is completely yours and you’re born with a clean slate. Sometimes, we carry so much inside of ourselves that we can’t help but pass it along to others, whether we mean to or not. She admits that she would make excuses or invalidate her children’s experiences because they were kids and didn’t understand. We teach children not to have boundaries, citing that they can make their own decisions at 18 years old, as if 18 is a magical age. We see it all the time, and I think that’s a balance we have to find because yes they are technically still children, but as soon as they turn 18 the weights of responsibility are thrust upon them with no experience or knowledge of what to do. We have to make mistakes in order to grow, but guidance can keep us from making the worst of them and builds a familiarity with boundaries for when they are older and on their own.

After losing her husband to cancer while the children were very young, Julie says there was a lot to navigate, so boundaries just fell to the wayside. She didn’t understand that survivor's guilt could apply to her in this situation, so there was a lot of inner turmoil she was fighting alone. A lot of times we imagine survivor’s guilt as something severe, but it perfectly applies to Julie’s scenario. They weren’t conscious thoughts, but her self talk was negative, and this continued to affect her life. Her second husband validated these negative thoughts, pushing her further into the shadows. She didn’t want to “wear her tragedy,” so she kept everything inside and would act like nothing was wrong. This just festered inside, creating a perfect storm between her inner turmoil and her husband feeding into these thoughts.

Julie says that she was seeing herself how others saw her, rather than how she truly was as a person on the inside. She was actively being sabotaged, being dragged 3 steps back after taking 1 step forward. We don’t always see these people coming into our lives, but they creep up on us when we are not taking care of ourselves or don’t understand our worth.

Her book, Notes From a Blackberry, is a memoir filled with raw emotion and beautiful prose that looks even further into Julie’s journey. One of the most important lessons she’s learned and wants to share is to accept help. Sometimes our pride gets in the way, but it isn’t weak to ask for help—it’s brave.

Ways to Engage: How do you think other people describe you? What do you agree with or don’t agree with? Write it down and throw it away. How do you describe yourself? The only thing that matters is what you think of yourself. Get rid of everyone else’s opinions and focus on who you are and who you want to be.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/9/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/9/26

Episode 51 - The FEEL Framework: Women’s Empowerment, Self-Discovery & Personal Growth Explained with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

If you’ve ever been interested in the origins of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook is here to answer any burning questions with The Creation of The FEEL Framework Talking Points and Key Questions. There are 8 talking points and 3 key questions discussed through the podcast that can be applied to anyone, no matter your background or goals for the future.

Melissa shares the story of how she and her original team, Valencia Saint-Louis and Abby Bekele, came up with the different talking points and what FEEL would mean. This wasn’t an idea that was born overnight, but rather something that had been building inside until it could no longer be ignored. Women are constantly taking care of others with no regard for themselves, whether it be their mental health or physical health. This adds layers to ourselves as women, especially when you factor in other areas of our lives, like misogyny, stereotypes, and personal experiences we hold onto.

This is why our podcast and network are so important, we offer spaces and resources for women to find themselves, embrace their layers, and live as their most genuine selves. We continue to add layers to ourselves as we move through the various seasons of life, and all of them are worth celebrating. All the work through our talking points and key questions comes together to create a foundation for you to go on your own journey. They are there to take with you wherever you go and remain forever. Be intentional with how you use them and answer them, remaining curious through your responses.

Think of what these conversations look like for you, taking inspiration from the conversations between Melissa and our guests each week. It’s a great ice breaker to use with new people or to reconnect with yourself on a deeper level. Not sure where to begin? The Embracing Layers Network has a plethora of resources to use, including one on one time with Melissa. It’s never too late to start living as your healthiest, most authentic self.

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about Positioning the FEEL Framework with Melissa

The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/4/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/4/26

Episode 50 - Reclaiming Your Power, Redefining Success & Breaking Free from Self-Doubt with Dr. Audrey Schnell

By Jessica Garrison

This week’s guest is Dr. Audrey Schnell, who describes herself as smart, quirky, kind, funny, nerdy, fun, and caring. Throughout the episode, she offers great ways to check in with yourself and questions to ask when you’re feeling uncertain if you’re on the right path.

A lot of Audrey’s journey became clear when she was talking about taking care of her emotional and mental health as much as her physical health. She says that she’s always been interested in health, but it wasn’t a conscious decision in the beginning. Her passion led to her starting her own business dedicated to “helping ambitious professionals break free from self-doubt and self-sabotage,” helping to tie all of your layers together. She gets clients to answer questions like, Who do I want to be? Does this fit with my values? When it comes to living outside of your own expectations instead of others’, Audrey says that it’s about digging a little deeper into your soul. You shouldn’t feel like you have to do something, and if you don’t want to, you can retrain your body into saying no to these tasks. Success is different for everyone, but happiness is success. As long as you feel happy in your life and like you’re living out of your own expectations, then that is success. As Melissa always says, “you get to choose,” and Audrey reminds us that we have a choice in our actions, perfectly tying into our recent empowerment time for Tuesday’s episodes.

During the episode, Audrey said that events that may not seem traumatic as an adult could be traumatic for a child. I love that she touched on this because it’s easy for us to look back on ourselves and criticize, but remembering this can help you have more grace and forgiveness for your past self and your layers. We also tend to self-punish when we do something wrong and it escalates further in our minds, rather than just asking, “How do I fix this?” We tend to make things more complicated than they have to be, which can be resolved with just a little communication.

One more moment I want to touch on is when Audrey gets to the layers talking point and how the past looks very different when you’re successful. If we aren’t where we want to be in life, it’s easy to look back and think of everything we’ve done as a mistake. But if we’re successful, then we look back at it as a lesson learned. When we fail at something, we can say we failed 100 times or we can say that we are one step closer to success. The way that we frame our language and how we speak to ourselves has a major impact on us, and Audrey just confirms this even more.

Audrey reminds us that “your past doesn’t define your present or future,” something we need to be reminded of every so often. Whether it’s past, present, or future, your layers will always be part of you, so it’s time to fully embrace them.

Ways to Engage: Ask some of the questions that Audrey asks herself and her clients. Who do I want to be? Does this align with my values? Be honest with yourself when asking these questions. If you aren’t sure of the answers, go through our other talking points or schedule personalized time with Melissa to truly understand yourself and your layers.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/2/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 3/2/26

Episode 49 - No More Accepting the Scraps, It’s Time to Choose YOU: Self-Worth, Boundaries & Women’s Empowerment with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

Podcast host Melissa Crook is here this week to bring everyone the necessary reminder of No More Accepting the Scraps, It’s Time to Choose YOU. So many times women give everything to others, and it’s only when everyone else is satisfied that they give back to themselves. We want to see women change this narrative and choose themselves first, rather than accepting the leftovers.

Melissa shares that even though she tells women every day that they need to ask for what they’re worth and value themselves, she sometimes struggles with this in her own life. When people are used to you giving to them before you give to yourself, there’s a possibility of pushback once these boundaries are set in place. It’s about remaining consistent during these times and reminding others, as well as yourself, that you come first. If you set that expectation for yourself, others will follow your lead.

Take some time with your calendar and look over what you have coming up over the next few weeks or next few months. Is there time blocked off for yourself or a day full of activities you want to do? It’s important to invest in yourself before you give that time away to others so you don’t find yourself accepting the scraps of your time anymore. First and foremost, it belongs to you.

This empowerment time is about recognizing your own worth and asking to be treated as such. You shouldn’t have to settle for what you want in life because it’s your life. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve, whether it be payment for work you’re doing or the way you’re treated in a relationship. Save a little for yourself each time, so then you’re not playing catch up when you realize that all the time for yourself is gone. There are plenty of resources from our network that can help you during this time, even one on one sessions with Melissa to get a more personalized outlook on your journey. It’s time to take care of, invest in, and choose yourself.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/25/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/25/26

Episode 48 - Women, Boundaries & Emotional Wellness: How to Stop People Pleasing and Prioritize Self-Care with Angela Iacobellis

By Jessica Garrison

Our next guest is an empathetic, analytical woman who takes things to heart. Melissa met her at a Refresh & Renew event in California, and now we get to meet the incredible woman that is Angela Iacobellis.

There’s many layers to Angela and her story, including her love for physical wellness. She prioritizes the gym for a release of her emotions from the body, something that is more beneficial than people realize. I will feel in my body when I need to run or do some physical activity to get the nerves out or to feel at peace again. When your body is giving you these cues, listen to them. Even taking 10 minutes for herself to meditate, Angela sees the difference between herself when she takes the time to breathe and when she doesn't. Women feel like they have to do it all and not allow any breaks for themselves, otherwise it would be selfish of them. This came up for Angela when her mother was going through cancer treatment, which was obviously causing a lot of emotional turmoil, which would turn into physical also. You have to give yourself permission to have that alone time, and even taking the 10 minutes to meditate is okay. The world didn’t fall apart for Angela when she took that time for herself, and it helped her come back to her mother healthier and with a more clear mind.

Angela further elaborates on her layers, saying that you can’t be everything for everyone, another expectation people have for women. Her mom used to say, “I’m doing the best I can right now.” It's the reason why we should be kinder to our past selves because you did the best you could with what you had. It might not have been the best decision in the long run, but you have to forgive yourself and move on to the future, rather than dwelling on the past and things you can’t change.

Advice that Melissa reiterates for people pleasers throughout the podcast is to wait 24 hours before committing to something, a tactic that Angela also uses. By giving yourself that time to think it over, you can weigh the pros and cons and see if it’s something that is within your capacity at the moment. A lot of times we say yes right off the bat and later have regrets, but this way, you can work ahead instead of struggling to catch up. Angela says that there is a fine line between giving grace and letting people take advantage of you. If you’re always the yes man, then people will come to you even if they have no intention of helping you in return, or even if it affects your mental health in a negative way.

Angela is a very accomplished woman professionally as well as in her journey of living unapologetically, finding empowerment, and embracing her layers. Women are powerful beings who can do it all, just not at the same time. It all starts within.

Ways to Engage: Next time you’re feeling anxious, amped up, frustrated, or any emotion that is causing an internal struggle, try exercising or some physical activity. Meditate, walk, jog, do jumping jacks, etc. Anything you can do to physically express your emotions and move them through your body.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/23/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/23/26

Episode 47 - Reclaiming Your Identity: The FEEL Framework for Self-Leadership, Healthy Boundaries & Unapologetic Living with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

This week’s one on one empowerment time with Melissa Crook picks up where last week’s left off, going further into Positioning The FEEL Framework or North Star/Core Positioning into your own life.

Without tangible ways to apply The FEEL Framework, you can start to feel lost on how to bring this idea to life. However, Melissa is here to offer some great ways to get started. Rather than describing yourself to new people by the roles you fill, describe yourself to them by your character traits, as you’ve heard us do on every episode of the podcast. Talk about who you are rather than what you do, and challenge others to do the same. When someone starts introducing themselves by their roles in life, ask them for their character traits. Open up their minds as well as yours to a new way of defining yourself.

It’s time to put yourself in the seat of being a guest on The FEEL Podcast and answer the talking points with openness and honesty. Are you living by your why and daily values? Are you living out of your own expectations or someone else’s? Do you have boundaries that you not only set but follow? Get the whole picture of how you are living your life through these talking points to see areas you are confident in and areas you need more work in.

It’s time for you to reclaim who you are and understand that you can live this way. You can embody FEEL, have power without apology, and find freedom within yourself.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/18/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/18/26

Episode 46 - Breaking Ageism & Redefining What It Means to Age with Dr. Corinne Auman

By Jessica Garrison

This week’s guest is reliable, ambitious, trustworthy, and has a non-negotiable no BS policy, which I think we can all learn from. Dr. Corinne Auman shares so many experiences with us and gives new insight to the conversation of age.

Throughout the episode, Corinne shares the ongoing process of supporting herself as well as other women in living unapologetically simply because of the ageist stereotypes that are perpetuated in our society. She says you don’t have to be in your “prime” at a certain point in life or at a specific age. Everyone is different and moves at their own pace—whether it be for marriage, travel, or retirement—so you can’t fairly judge or assess someone else’s decisions.

I love that Corinne also shares how the social media piece adds to the difficulty of overcoming these mixed messages. Social media can lead to comparison, no matter what age you are. We tend to post the most positive aspects of our lives, something we have to keep in mind as we continue to scroll. Women especially have to be careful because of the outside pressure put on them by society, other women, and men.

There’s a stereotype of men trading their wives in for “younger models” once they get too old or replacing them in the workplace. It is outright offensive to think a woman is not beautiful, intelligent, kind, confident, or any other glorious traits when she ages. The key to fighting ageism is starting on the inside first, overcoming our own prejudices to fight what the system has taught us all our lives. The way I look at it is that aging is a luxury not everyone receives, so it should be looked at as a beautiful process rather than something ugly. Corinne says that people are afraid to acknowledge that they’re getting older, but the time to embrace it is now.

Corinne has published a book called Keenagers: Telling a New Story about Aging that depicts people in the 50s-70s range starting new chapters in their lives and defeating that “getting old” stereotype. Another factor I love within Corinne’s work is the need for diversity in stories. Between cultures, economic statuses, and family backgrounds, no one’s story is exactly the same as another, which is how we get out of the stereotypical mindset, not just with elders, but with all people. It gets boring hearing the same story over and over again, and I think that’s why Corinne’s work is so interesting—she works to tell a story that hasn’t been told before.

Fighting stereotypes starts with changing your judgement into curiosity, asking questions and listening rather than making assumptions about someone. I hope Corinne’s words will echo throughout someone’s mind, becoming the first step towards dismantling their preconceived notions of a person and working towards becoming more open-minded and unapologetic.

Ways to Engage: Think about stereotypes you have surrounding “old people.” They’re all bad drivers, they’re all racists, they’re all stingy with money, whatever it may be. Reflect upon these things, like why you believe this to be true, and challenge the stereotypes you feel within. Just because some people in a certain demographic may act a certain way doesn’t mean that everyone is like that. We are all on our journey and it’s what decisions we make that matters most.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/16/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/16/26

Episode 45 - You Are Worthy, You Are Valuable, and You Get to Choose: A Self-Leadership Framework for Women with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

If you’ve ever wanted to start your journey into unapologetic living but didn’t know where to start, then this empowerment time with Melissa Crook is perfect for you. In this episode, she shares the Core Messaging Framework of The Embracing Layers Network and what truly helps support this lifestyle.

There’s so much mentioned in just 15 minutes to get you really thinking about our core messaging framework as well what you want your core messaging framework to entail. We are a reactive society when we need to be a more responsive society, and this distinction reminds me of when I learned BAR vs. RAB. We tend to react to a situation, assess what happened and our reactions, then breathe. What we need to be doing is Breathe, Assess the situation, and then React to it. No matter which way helps you remember, it’s about taking the time to have a deeper understanding of something, and then we can respond in a way that will be helpful rather than just reactive.

Our messaging is also about getting to the root of the problem rather than putting a bandaid over it. Yes, that will heal the issue at hand for a short time, but without getting to the core of the problem, it will continue to affect us in a negative way. It ripples out into how we engage with the world and in all of our spaces, so we need that stable foundation to build on.

Ask yourself what comes to mind when you think of your own core messaging framework. If you find yourself struggling with this, you are not alone. We have an incredible community surrounding us that wants to help and make a difference, including one on one meetings with Melissa to really nail down your framework. This truly is the foundation for not only wellness, but for agency, identity, and cultural power.

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about Core Messaging Framework with Melissa

The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/11/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/11/26

Episode 44 - Finding Your Voice After Emotional and Financial Abuse with Amanda J. Scott

By Jessica Garrison

Episode trigger warning: abuse

Through our connections with Podmatch, we have been able to meet so many extraordinary women, and Amanda J. Scott is another one we can add to our growing list. She is a passionate, kind, and empathetic person to herself as well as others.

Amanda describes her why and values as a compass that guides her, explaining how she ended up in the work that she does. During her 17 years of marriage, she experienced emotional and financial abuse, and a common aspect of abuse is isolation. Amanda didn’t want to keep the journey to herself, so it’s important for her to let other women know that they are not alone. For a long time Amanda says that she didn’t have a voice, and she doesn’t want that to ever happen again, to her or to anyone else. The power of women supporting women, especially in living unapologetically, is a discovery that changed her life. Amanda shares how critical it is for women to have at least one female friend who knows and understands them. Your friends are also there to remind you of your worth and are a great support for your path forward.

Women’s stories matter, though there isn’t always a platform for women to share their stories in a safe way. It took time for Amanda to not only come back to herself, but to also put her experiences into words. She wrote a book entitled Finding My Way Back To Me, detailing the days that led up to her courageous decision to leave her husband and how she reclaimed her life. Embracing her layers have made her feel strong and empowered, contributing to her resilience and the reason why she could leave her abusive relationship.

Amanda also says how she stopped tolerating people who were disrespectful towards her, and this gave her a greater sense of self-respect. She lives her life authentically, and this helps those around her do the same. If we see someone we look up to treating themselves kindly and living the healthiest life they can, then we are inspired to do the same. This has also deepened her connection with her daughters, which warms my heart even more to know that her daughters have such a wonderful role model in their lives.

I want to end this blog with a comment Amanda made for everyone to remember. If you take nothing else away from this episode, remember that “it’s never too late to come home to yourself.”

Ways to Engage: Ask yourself, “What does love look like for me? What does a healthy relationship look like to me?” Don’t look at what other people have or what other people say you should have. Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly, intentionally, and without expectations. Once you have your answer, start the journey towards living this.

Resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text START to 88788

The Center For Relationship Abuse Awareness (Education & Action)

StopRelationshipAbuse.org

The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/9/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/9/26

Episode 43 - The VIP Upgrade: A Personalized Transformation for Women Ready to Prioritize Themselves with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

Ready for an upgrade? Host Melissa Crook is here to discuss The VIP Upgrade from the Embracing a FEEL-Fueled Life online course. This is a top tier investment that is perfect for women looking to gain information as well as create a personalized transformation.

We tend to treat other people like they’re VIP without considering ourselves at all, but your journey can’t begin until you make yourself a priority. This way, you can show up completely in all of your spaces rather than having limited resources within yourself. In this episode, Melissa goes into detail about her three pillars: identity over productivity, liberation through boundaries, and embodied wholeness.

Along with everything you receive in The Essentials part of the online course, The VIP Upgrade includes exclusive access to 60 minutes of 1:1 empowerment session time with Melissa that has a flexible structure that works best for you, allowing direct guidance that is tailored to your needs. This is your fast track to clarity, accountability, and lasting change. As you continue your journey, keep in mind these considerate words from Melissa: “You are worthy, you are valuable, and you get to choose.”

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The VIP Upgrade one-on-one empowerment program

The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/4/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/4/26

Episode 42 - Solo Female Travel, Self-Discovery & Living Outside Expectations with Tsvety Roo

By Jessica Garrison

Our next guest is someone with warmth, who is brave, courageous, conversational, and open-minded. We got a sneak peek at Tsvety Roo during the Together We FEEL panels on YouTube with “Honest Conversation around ‘Child-Free’ and ‘Child-Less’” and “Celebrating Ourselves Well.” Now we get to spotlight her in her own podcast episode and hear more details about her story.

The experiences she shares are so interesting because Tsvety is a solo traveler, which is something we don’t typically see from women. The world can be a scary place, but it’s also fascinating and full of culture, and we can’t allow fear to rule our lives. By giving herself permission, Tsvety has been able to live her dreams, but this decision didn’t come overnight. She shares that she needed to do introspective work and question herself. What am I stifling? Why am I not being fulfilled? What is making me feel stuck? It’s not always easy to ask yourself these personal questions and be honest with yourself, but you won’t be able to get answers unless you do. Tsvety said she had to dig deep to uncover what she was truly looking for.

Tsvety realized that she needed to live outside of her own expectations rather than living someone else’s life like she had been. You can’t let the outside voices sway you, especially when they don’t know the full story. No one knows your values or your passions more than yourself, so it’s important that you are making the decisions. She even discusses how she had her own misconceptions of travel until she experienced it for herself. This is when turning judgment into curiosity becomes crucial for our journey. If she hadn’t gotten curious, then Tsvety might have never taken the leap into the life she has now.

On her journey, she has grown to have more compassion for herself because, after all, we are our own worst critics. This has further helped her connect with others on a deeper level as well. She’s become more vulnerable, which gives her more strength and confidence. In the corporate setting, Tsvety was always told she was “too nice,” something I hear a lot of women called. A friend of mine was even turned down for a job, citing that she was “too nice,” which I’ve never heard a man called or denied work because of. The truth is that women can be strong AND kind–-the two don’t cancel each other out.

I loved hearing Tsvety talk not only about her experiences traveling, but all of the inner work she had to do to get to where she is now. It isn’t easy to transform your life the way she has, but it’s the best way to get where you want to go. If you’re ever in doubt or need inspiration, then this episode is perfect for you to find empowerment to live out of your own expectations and embrace your beautiful, complex layers.

Ways to Engage: Ask yourself the questions Tsvety asked herself: What am I stifling? Why am I not feeling fulfilled? What is making me feel stuck? Dig deep, be honest, and answer for yourself rather than answering how other people want you to.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/2/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 2/2/26

Episode 41 - The FEEL Essentials: Living With Clarity, Alignment & Self-Trust with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

Similarly to last week’s calendar cleanse, host Melissa Crook offers a peek at The F.E.E.L Essentials from the Embracing a F.E.E.L-Fueled Life online course. This is where you will get some great ideas or tips on how you can create an impact without burnout and harness power without apology.

It’s crucial that we continue to check in with ourselves and understand what is right for us in the present moment. Ask yourself: what are 5 activities that nourish me? What are five ways I want to feel in the next 6 months? What are my values? This one is especially important because if we don’t value ourselves, then we won’t prioritize ourselves.

Use curiosity rather than judgment and remove the shame from your past layers or experiences. You did the best you could in that moment with the information you had, so it’s time to look forward while growing stronger inside and out. With The Essentials you will have full access to the course forever, 3 self-discovery questions, 8 talking points, and a digital workbook. There is also a physical copy of the workbook available if you’re more interested in using pen and paper. Let’s support each other as we take care of all areas of health, embrace our layers, prioritize self care, and continue to uphold healthy boundaries. This episode with Melissa, along with our online course, is definitely essential to your journey towards a healthier, unapologetic life.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 1/28/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 1/28/26

Episode 40 - Reclaiming Your Power: Boundaries, Healing, and Holistic Mental Health for Women with Dr. Anna Marie Frank

By Jessica Garrison

Episode trigger warnings: sexual assault, suicidal ideation

Melissa met our latest guest at The Power of Just One conference from SwellWomen, hosted by Lulu Agan. She knew there was a much larger conversation to have with Dr. Anna Marie Frank, who is a joyful, “sunshine and rainbows, bare feet on the grass, coffee in hand, trying to get to the beach any time she can, wants to be outside” type of gal.

Anna recalls her journey involving rediscovering and reprogramming, the first step for many of us to take in changing our lives. We live a certain way for so long that we have to be self aware about making shifts. This subject came up while discussing boundaries, where Anna says that it isn’t your job to make other people feel comfortable. It took her a while to realize that, and some people go their whole lives without realizing it. You are responsible for your own self and people have to be responsible for their own selves. We talk a lot about that with boundaries because it’s crucial we learn that we can’t control the way others will act, and you can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, worrying about everyone else. Women are raised to think that we should be doing all of these things, but we’re only human after all. It’s ironic that women tend to be seen as “lesser than” but are still given all of the responsibility. Anna describes the power within these realizations, reminding us that it’s just a matter of time before we unlock it.

Getting people to feel the connection between their mental, physical, and spiritual health is one of Anna’s passions, and it falls right in line beside boundaries. The body follows what your mind does, which is why it’s so important to take care of all aspects of your health. We have more control over our bodies than we realize, a point Anna works to get across to her clients. She says the medicine is within us, and she loves to help people discover and step into their power holistically. You don’t have to wait until something drastic happens in your life and, despite what people may think, it’s never too late to start following your dreams and passions. Anna says you can start small with simple things to build up your confidence and understand that we are capable of so much more than we realize.

The layers we experience and uncover don’t need to have a label of “good” or “bad,” just like Melissa has said in the past about our emotions. They are what they are, and accepting them is truly a lot easier than shoving them down to fester. It doesn’t seem like it will be easier, but that’s because of the ideas and stereotypes we were raised with. Don’t deny your gifts or let people talk you out of who you really are. I loved the vulnerability that Anna brought to the conversation, not holding anything back as she shares her truth. It’s inspiring to hear from women who have learned from themselves and work towards helping other women live authentically.

Ways to Engage: What is your biggest passion in life? Does this answer come easily to you or do you need to think on it? What are some activities that nourish you or ways you want to feel in the next 6 months? Are your passions something that you truly harness or are they coming from someone else? Align your why and your passions within yourself.

Resources:

Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)

Call 800-656-HOPE or text HOPE to 64673 (National Sexual Assault Hotline)

The F.E.E.L Podcast 1/26/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 1/26/26

Episode 39 - Calendar Cleanse: How to Reclaim Your Time, Set Boundaries, and Stop Overcommitting with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

As the first month of 2026 winds down, host Melissa Crook takes time to discuss The Calendar Cleanse and share an opportunity to get extra support in these areas. In this one on one empowerment session, Melissa encourages listeners to honor themselves through their calendar, which can be a lot easier said than done.

Your calendar is a “reflection of your priorities, boundaries, and self-respect,” so it’s important that it represents you correctly. It takes practice saying “no” to what you don’t want and “yes” to what you do want, especially for people pleasers. As we’ve heard on the podcast before and as Melissa reiterates in this episode, be sure to give yourself at least 24 hours before making a decision. Even though we tend to apologize or overexplain, practice a response that is confident and sustains your boundaries without saying sorry.

Be sure your calendar represents and creates space for YOU. Honor yourself through your schedule and remember that you are worthy of the time you take for yourself. If you need extra support, our online course has its own Calendar Cleanse section for only $47 to have forever, so you can refer back to it any time. If you want to continue further, there are more modules to the course, or you can schedule to meet with Melissa one on one for more direct conversations. Let this be your first step towards investing in yourself and creating a calendar that caters to you rather than catering to others.

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 15–30 minute session or learn more about The Calendar Cleanse one-on-one empowerment program.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 1/21/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 1/21/26

Episode 38 - Breaking Gender Stereotypes: How One Sports Doll Sparked a Movement for Girls’ Empowerment

By Jessica Garrison

We have such a unique story to share this week with Jodi Bondi Norgaard. Jodi is an advocate, good listener, and a believer in equality, traits that become very clear as you listen to her share her journey.

Jodi says that she has always known she was right about gender equality, but she had an “aha!” moment in the toy store. Products are specifically marketed towards boys and girls. For example, toys for boys are trucks, Legos, and even fake guns. Toys for girls are baby dolls, tea sets, and play kitchens. They reinforce gender stereotypes, teaching children from a young age that there are certain things for certain genders, filing them into the categories society wants them to be in. In Jodi’s case, she saw dolls upon dolls that encouraged girls to wear makeup and skimpy clothes, but Jodi wanted to create a doll that would positively impact girls. With 75 lines of fashion dolls but not a single sports doll, Jodi decided to create one. She even measured her daughter’s friends so she could make a doll that had accurate proportions for a child, rather than the impossible ones we see today. This wasn’t just something Jodi slapped together, but rather a doll that she put her mind and heart into.

Her dolls were even sold at the U.S. Open. They bought 500 dolls from Jodie and sold every single one in less than a week. This just goes to show how much of a demand there is for this type of doll, solidifying for Jodi that this was the right choice for her. She had an idea fueled by passion and turned it into reality. And it wasn’t about making the girls pick the sports doll or pick the fashion doll, but rather about allowing them to have the choice of what they want, rather than stifling them by putting them into a box.

Jodi says she’s surrounded by smart, strong women who have no idea of their true power. They have low self-esteem, with strengths that women have as children becoming weaknesses as we become adults. It starts at a young age that girls begin to doubt themselves, thinking they’re not as good as boys or they aren’t as pretty as the other girls. However, Jodi is supporting women in living unapologetically by uplifting them with her words and her actions. Creating the sports doll was just the beginning of her journey, showing her a world of possibilities in the world of advocacy. She created her book, More Than a Doll, detailing “how creating a sports doll turned into a fight to end gender stereotypes” because her story is so much more than a doll.

Fighting the good fight can be exhausting, especially when you take hit after hit. But there’s one last thing I want to leave from Jodi to remember when you’re feeling this way, and that is “it’s okay to rest—it’s not okay to give up.” Rest and refuel, but never forget the reason why you started fighting in the first place.

Ways to Engage: When you’re out shopping, take notice of products that are specifically marketed towards men or women. What about them perpetuates stereotypes for the targeted gender? Keep mental notes of this so you are conscious of marketing strategies or stereotypes that businesses work to keep. The more aware of it we are, the better decisions we can make.

The F.E.E.L Podcast 1/19/26 The F.E.E.L Podcast 1/19/26

Episode 37 - The FEEL Leadership Immersion with Melissa Crook: Leading with Empowerment, Wholeness, and Unapologetic Confidence

By Jessica Garrison

If you’re a visionary, creative, or entrepreneur, then this empowerment session is for you. When women are put into a position of power or leadership, there are people who wait for, or even root for her to fail. With The FEEL Leadership Immersion, host Melissa Crook is here to share with women how they can lead with confidence and without burnout.

A huge hurdle we want to see women jump is constantly apologizing. We often feel like an inconvenience or like we should be “grateful” to be in the room in the first place, but we have to stop telling ourselves these stories. You’ve earned your place at the table and deserve to be there just as much as anyone else. If we say sorry a lot in our daily lives, I think it’s safe to say we can triple it in the workplace. In this episode, Melissa shares some alternatives to saying sorry, such as, “Excuse me, could I have a moment of your time?” rather than starting off the conversation with an apology. It takes some unlearning, but the more you practice the better you’ll get and soon enough, you won’t even have to think about it.

The responsibility of being a leader, especially as a woman, has immense pressure, but let this episode be a reminder to you that you have all of the power within yourself. Ask yourself: am I embracing my layers? Am I applying this to my work? Clarify what your why and values are, ensuring that you hold these close as you maneuver through uncharted territory. Continue to spread your wealth of knowledge as a confident, empowered leader.